







































English Language Teaching Educational Journal   ISSN 2621-6485 

Vol. 3, No. 3, 2020, pp. 174-187  174 

        10.12928/eltej.v3i3.3136                           http://journal2.uad.ac.id/index.php/eltej/index            eltej@pbi.uad.ac.id 

The effects of different types of written corrective feedbacks on 

students’ texting mistakes 

Hasan Güner Berkanta,1,*, Nuriye Batmaz Dererb,2, Ozgur Kursad Dererb,3 

a Bozok University, Medrese Mahallesi Adnan Menderes Bulvarı, Atatürk Yolu 7. Km D:118, 66200 Azizli/Yozgat Merkez/Yozgat, Turkey 
b Anadolu University, Anadolu Üniversitesi Basın ve Halkla İlişkiler Müdürlüğü Yunus Emre Kampüsü, 26470 Eskişehir, Turkey 
1 hgberkant@gmail.com*; 2 nurderer@windowslive.com; 3 ok.derer@outlook.com.tr 

* corresponding author 

 

1. Introduction 

The concept of feedback has many definitions in the literature. In these definitions, it is 
emphasized that it should inform the learner about whether he/she has behaved in accordance with 
the aims of education or whether he/she has acquired the target behaviors (Dysthe, 2007; Hattie & 
Timperley, 2007; Joyce, Weil & Calhoun, 2000).  Feedback plays an essential role in students’ 
achievement and learning (Carless, Salter, Yang & Lam, 2011; Ellery, 2008; Ellis, Sheen, Murakami 
& Takashima, 2008; Higgins, Hartley & Skelton, 2010; Nakata, 2015; Nicol & Macfarlane-Dick, 
2006; Sendziuk, 2010; Shute, 2008). This role depends on several missions of feedback such as 
informing pupils about their work to come through the learning objectives along with for reinforcing 
and motivating their learning performance (Nelson & Schunn, 2009).  

Second language (L2) learning is a creative and developmental process in which student 
produces oral and written expressions in a foreign language. Students' L2 output is based on the 
rules of a language system they internalize (Hendrickson, 1980). L2 learning can also be defined as 
"developing knowledge about L2 and using it correctly" (Bitchener & Storch, 2016). If students 
understand the rules and their usage well, they are expected to produce an L2 output that is 
grammatically and semantically appropriate. However, if students' hypotheses about language rule 
are sometimes incorrect, they can probably produce some false statements (Hendrickson, 1980). 

1.1 . Written Corrective Feedback 

In the early days of foreign language learning, writing was applied solely to focus on students' 
grammar and vocabulary, and therefore errors were taken seriously (Brown, 2007; Ferris, 2010 
Ferris & Hedgcock, 2005). In accordance with Boughey (1997), writing has a great importance in 

A R T I C L E  I N F O 

 

ABST RACT  

 

 

Article history 

Received 23 November 2020 

Revised 08 December 2020 

Accepted 21 December 2020 

 The main purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of 
different types of written corrective feedback on students' texting 
mistakes in English lessons. In the study, a mixed model including 
quantitative and qualitative methods was engaged. Two-factor ANOVA 
was used for mixed measurements to test the significance of the 
difference between the error numbers of the three types of feedback 
except direct feedback. The qualitative data of the study were collected 
by examining the texts and the interviews about the effect of the four 
feedbacks were made with the students. Content analysis and 
descriptive analysis were performed. At the end of the study, in the 
quantitative findings obtained, the most effective type of feedback is the 
underlined feedback. As for the qualitative findings obtained from the 
students' opinions, the feedback type in which the error is coded and the 
information is given is the most effective type. 

 

 

This is an open access article under the CC–BY-SA license. 

    

 

 

Keywords 

English lesson 

writing activities 

feedback 

written corrective feedback 

texting mistakes 

 

 

http://journal2.uad.ac.id/index.php/eltej/index
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 Hasan Güner Berkant, et.al (The effects of different types of written corrective feedbacks) 

second language learning just as other skills and students cannot acquire writing naturally, however, 
they learn it through formal instruction. It is a communication design that we need in any kind of 
fields, like self-expression and speech. The writing, which has developed in an actual way; it is like 
a channel for conveying emotions, thoughts, designs, and wishes to the clients. To reach messages in 
a correct way, this channel must be flawless, for example the text should be readable and 
understandable (Karatay, 2011). While writing, it is prevalent to make errors for learners. As Brown 
(2000) states that learners inevitably make mistakes while acquiring writing skills and then they 
benefit from miscellaneous forms of feedback on their errors and this is where feedback becomes 
the focus.  

Various terms have been used for the same phenomenon, just as written error correction, written 
error feedback, or written corrective feedback (WCF). WCF can commonly be depicted as “… a 
dictated response to a lingual mistake in the writing of a passage by an L2 student. It aims to revise 
misuse or to provide data about where the mistake revealed and / or the cause of the mistake and 
how it can be corrected" (Bitcehener & Storch, 2016). Teachers and researchers often have a strong 
belief that WCF is critical for improving their writing. Not only that, error correction is also the key 
contributing to student success in second language learning (Ellis, 2009). Correcting students' 
mistakes and providing students with feedback have become two of the routines and norms in 
discovering students' potential in acquiring language. 

1.2. Types of Feedback 

WCF is an accepted instructional strategy, considered essential and inalienable by lots of 
teachers to assist foreign language learners enhance their writing capability (Ferris, 2010). A serious 
number of investigation has studied the capability of corrective feedback in writing, and many 
researchers have identified positive and important effects of WCF (Aseeri, 2019; Atmaca, 2016; 
Ferris, 2003, 2004; Kang & Han, 2015; Lee, 2019; Rahimi, 2009). Ellis (2009) has developed a 
categorization of teacher choices for correcting students’ lexical mistakes in their written works. Her 
typology includes six essential strategies for implementing WCF, direct corrective feedback, indirect 
corrective feedback, metalinguistic corrective feedback, focused versus unfocused corrective 
feedback, electronic feedback, and reformulation. 

In direct corrective feedback the teacher provides the learners with the correct form of 
knowledge. Ferris (2011) indicates that this may take various forms taking out an unessential word, 
phrase, or morpheme, inserting a missing word or morpheme, and writing the correct form above or 
near to the inaccurate form. Indirect corrective feedback suggests informing the learner about his/her 
texting mistakes without correction. That can be by highlighting the mistakes or using indicators to 
reveal the carelessness of learners or by placing a cross in the margin next to the text line consisting 
of the mistake. Underlined feedback was used by this way in present study. Metalinguistic corrective 
feedback consists of providing students with some form of precise remarks referring to the nature of 
the errors. The definitive comment may take two patterns. Probably the most prevalent is the usage 
of “error codes”. These include abridged labels for various types of errors. The labels may be written 
on the part of the error in the passage or in the margin. In present study, coded feedback was used by 
this way. 

In focused versus unfocused corrective feedback, teachers may reject to correct all errors of the 
learners when the corrective feedback is unfocused. Rather, they can pick peculiar mistake types for 
rectification. Dealing with correction is presumably more challenging in unfocused corrective 
feedback, because the student is compulsory to attend to several of errors and this is improbable to 
be able to display much on each mistake. Uncoded feedback was used in this context during the 
study. In electronic feedback, wide-ranging bulk of written English may be utilized to administer 
students with compensation in their writing. This support may be reached along computer programs 
as pupils note, or it may be promoted as a type of feedback. Whereas reformulation focuses on 
providing students with a source that they may utilize to revise their errors but places the liability for 
the last judgement about whether and how to revise on the learners themselves. 

Lots of researches have been carried out whether WCF is instructive or not. In their study, 
Radecki and Swales (1988) studied the attitudes of 59 students attending to four English as a second 
language (ESL) oriented classes and got their ideas on the efficiency of different kinds of comments, 
the extension of teacher markings, responsibility in error marking and correction, and revision. 
Ferris and Roberts (2001) searched 72 university ESL students’ various capacities to self-edit their 



176 English Language Teaching Educational Journal   ISSN 2621-6485 

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 Hasan Güner Berkant, et.al (The effects of different types of written corrective feedbacks) 

passages across feedback conditions: coded, underlined and no feedback. Chandler (2003) examined 
if error correction progressed accuracy in student writing or not. Bitchener, Young and Cameron 
(2005) investigated to what degree the sort of corrective feedback on linguistic failures determined 
accuracy performance in new pieces of writing. Sheen (2007) investigated the miscellaneous effects 
of two kinds of WCF and the degree to which lingual analytic competence mediates the effects of 
feedbacks on the acquisition of articles. Ellis and et al. (2008) searched the diversity in the effect of 
focused and unfocused corrective feedbacks. In his study Ergünay (2008) investigated whether WCF 
creates any progress on learners’ written accuracy or not. He also studied the various effects of 
direct and indirect written feedbacks on pupils’ written accuracy and examined the permanent 
effects of distinctive written corrective feedback. Bitchener and Knoch (2009) had the purpose to 
discover if there was a divergent effect on accuracy for three different direct WCF options over a 
six-month period. Sheen, Wright and Moldawa (2009) investigated whether direct focused feedback, 
direct unfocused feedback and writing practice alone caused peculiar effects on the proper use of 
grammatical forms by ESL learner. Bitchener and Knoch (2010) searched the extent to which 
written corrective feedback may support advanced L2 learners. Hartshorn et al. (2010) tried to 
provide a brief explanation for WCF and to inquiry its effectiveness in one specific ESL learning 
context. Van Beuningen, De Jong and Kuiken (2012) investigated the effect of direct and indirect 
corrective feedback on second language learners’ written accuracy. Kang and Han (2015) examined 
whether WCF aid to enhance the grammatical accuracy of second language writing or not. In her 
study Atmaca (2016) aimed to reveal the similarities and differences among students’ and teachers’ 
awareness about WCF in an EFL (English as a Foreign Language) context. Al-Hazzani and Altalhab 
(2018) examined the effect of teachers’ WCF on female Saudi EFL pupils’ written articles and to 
what degree it affected students’ written grammatical and lingual accuracy. Köksal, Özdemir, 
Tercan, Gün and Bilgin (2018) investigated EFL teachers’ opinions of WCF and the relationship 
between their WCF priorities and self-efficacy beliefs. Aseeri (2019) aimed to address the extent to 
which faculty members and students at the department of English language at Najran University 
practiced by using the ways of WCF. Kim and Bowles (2019) contrasted how second language 
learners practiced two kinds of written feedback: reformulation and direct correction. Lee (2019) 
searched the amount of feedback types teachers gave to students. Şakrak-Ekin and Balçıkanlı (2019) 
investigated EFL instructors’ beliefs about WCF.  

Different from these related studies mentioned above, in this study the effects of different types 
of WCFs on the number of students’ texting mistakes in English lessons were investigated by using 
both qualitative and quantitative data. In this context, the problem of the study can be defined as 
“What are the effects of different types of WCFs on the number of students’ texting mistakes in 
English lessons?" 

1.3. Purpose of the Study 

The main purpose of this research is to investigate the effects of different types of WCFs on the 
number of students’ texting mistakes in English lessons. In accordance with this main purpose, 
answers are searched for the following questions: 

1. Is there a meaningful difference between the underlined and coded feedbacks given to the 
texts in terms of reducing students' mistakes? 

2. Is there a meaningful difference between the underlined and uncoded feedback given to the 
texts in terms of reducing students' mistakes? 

3. Is there a meaningful difference between the coded and uncoded feedback given to the texts 
in terms of reducing student mistakes? 

4. What are the mistakes that students make in their writing work? 

5. What are the opinions of students on the effects of WCF? 

2. Research Method 

In this section, information about the model, study group, procedure, data collection tool, data 
collection process and analysis are given.    



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2.1. Model of the Study 

This study employed mixed model, which is indicated as a research model that contains 
collecting and analyzing together or sequentially the qualitative and quantitative data in the same 
research (Creswell, Plano Clark, Gutmann & Hanson, 2003). One-group pretest-posttest design was 
utilized in the research. It is one of the quasi-experimental designs, because the pariticipants weren’t 
assigned randomly and a comparison/control group wasn’t used (Privitera & Ahlgrim-Delzell, 
2019). Quasi-experimental research designs pursue if there is a causal relationship amidst 
independent and dependent variables (Loewen & Plonsky, 2016). In the present study, three types of 
WCF (underlined, coded, uncoded) were used as independent variable, students’ texting mistakes 
were determined as independent variable in one-group pretest-posttest design. The qualitative data 
of the study were collected via the interviews with the pupils about the effect of the four feedbacks 
at the end of the experimental process. Also, document investigation was used to see what kind of 
errors there were in the texts students wrote. Both interview and document investigation are types of 
qualitative research models and may be used together in the same research to enhance the reliability 
of data (Yıldırım & Şimşek, 2018). On the other hand, the quantitative dimension of the study 
consists of the numbers of written mistakes determined from the students’ texts both before and after 
the application of three types of feedbacks in one-group design.    

2.2. Study Group 

The research was realized with 27 students aged 13-14 from eight grades in a secondary school 
in Kahramanmaraş City Elbistan District. Because the study was carried out in a school in which 
two of the researchers work, the convenience sampling model was used while determining the study 
group. Convenience sample is a kind of purposeful sampling model by which the study group is 
determined from a group of people providing a practical contact or reach (Yıldırım & Şimşek, 
2018). 

2.3. Procedure 

Different topics were determined for each type of feedback from the eighth grade English 
curriculum [Ministry of National Education (MNE), 2013]. Later, students were asked to write texts 
about these topics. The feedbacks were applied to the students' texts and the number of errors was 
noted. In the underlined feedback, the whole sentence including the wrong word was drawn. In the 
coded feedback, only the error type was written on the underscored mistakes by using some codes 
including initials of error type (i.e. grammar mistake-GM). The uncoded feedback was done by only 
underlining the incorrect word. Finally, the direct feedback was done by writing the correct form at 
the bottom of the wrong word. Because the direct feedback clearly indicated the answer key, except 
for the texts including direct feedback, the texts in which underlined, coded, and uncoded feedbacks 
given were rewritten and corrected by the students. Later, these texts were distributed to the students 
and they were asked to write again according to the feedback given. The rewritten texts were 
collected from the students once again, the errors were checked and the error numbers were noted.  

2.4. Data Collection Tool 

The texts which were given feedbacks and written by the students were used as data collection 
tool. The students were asked to write four different texts about subjects chosen from the eighth 
grade English curriculum (MNE, 2013). The selected subjects were related with “Friendship, Teen 
Life, Cooking, Communication”. 

2.5. Data Collection Processes and Analysis 

Both the qualitative and quantitative data were collected from the texts students wrote. A part of 
qualitative data was collected by interviews made with students of the study group about the effects 
of feedbacks on their learning. The other part of qualitative data was collected by examining the 
passages drafted by the students before and after the feedback application. In the analysis of 
qualitative data, content analysis and descriptive analysis methods were used. Interview forms were 
analyzed by content analysis technique. Content analysis is the logical arrangement of basically 
similar data by reaching certain codes and themes and the interpretation of these data in an 
understandable way (Yıldırım & Şimşek, 2018). Descriptive analysis is a technique in which the 
data are summarized and interpreted according to previously determined themes, direct quotations 
are frequently used to reflect the opinions of the interviewed individuals in a striking way, and the 



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results obtained are interpreted within the framework of cause-effect relations (Yıldırım & Şimşek, 
2018).  

Miles and Huberman's (1994) reliability formula was used to test the reliability of the interview 
data collected from students. Two researchers independently coded the answers and then their codes 
were compared by utilizing this formula. The researchers came to agreement in 23 codes while in 2 
codes they disagreed among the 23 codes. When these numbers were replaced in the formula, the 
reliability value was determined as .91. This value indicates the reliability of interview data, because 
the minimum value of reliability is expected to be at least .80 (Miles & Huberman, 1994; Patton, 
2002). 

The quantitative data were collected from one-group treatment before and after the feedback 
application by counting the numbers of texting mistakes which were indicated from the students’ 
texts. Two-way ANOVA for mixed measures were used in order to test the significance of the 
differences between the numbers of texting mistakes before and after the application according to 
the type of feedback. 

3. Findings and Discussion 

Quantitative and qualitative findings of the research are presented below. 

3.1. Quantitative Findings 

Findings of descriptive statistics of error numbers related to underlined and coded feedbacks 

are presented in Table 1. 

Table 1.  Descriptive Statistics of Error Numbers Related to Underlined and Coded Feedbacks 

Feedback Type 

 

Underlined 

Before Feedback After Feedback 

N X S N X S 

27 11.40 4.55 27 4.22 2.84 

Coded 27 5.25 3.89 27 2.74 2.89 

 
As shown in Table 1, the average of the error numbers before giving underlined feedback was 

11.40, while it was 4.22 after the feedback. For the students given coded feedback, the error 
numbers averaged 5.25 before the feedback and 2.74 after the feedback. Accordingly, it can be 
stated that error numbers of students who were given both underlined and coded feedbacks 
decreased. Findings of two-factor ANOVA results regarding the error numbers related to underlined 
and coded feedbacks are presented in Table 2. 

Table 2.  Two-Factor ANOVA Results Regarding Underlined and Coded Feedbacks 

Source of Variance Sum of Squares sd Mean Square F p 

Between subjects 1660.06 53    

Group (Underlined-Coded)  392.92 1 392.92 154.66 .000 

Error 1267.14 52 24.36   

Within Subjects 878.99 54    

Measurement 

(Before feedback-After feedback)  
635.59 1 635.59 342.82 .000 

Group*Measurement 147.00 1 147.00 79.28 .000* 

Error 96.40 52 1.85   

Total  2539.05 107    

a. *p< .001 



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 Hasan Güner Berkant, et.al (The effects of different types of written corrective feedbacks) 

As seen in Table 2, the common effects of the repeated measures factors on the error numbers are 
meaningful when the error numbers of the students who were applied two different feedbacks differ 
significantly after the experiment, that is, in different transaction groups, F(1, 52)=79.28, p< .05. 
This finding suggests that underlined and coded feedbacks have different effects on students' error 
numbers. It is understood that students who were given underlined feedback after the experiment are 
more effective in reducing the number of mistakes compared to coded feedback.  

Findings of descriptive statistics of error numbers related to underlined and uncoded feedbacks 
are presented in Table 3. 

Table 3.  Descriptive Statistics of Error Numbers Related to Underlined and Uncoded Feedbacks 

Feedback Type 
Before Feedback After Feedback 

N X S N X S 

Underlined 27 11.40 4.55 27 4.22 2.84 

Uncoded 27 8.14 4.02 27 4.14 3.35 

 
As shown in Table 3, the average of the error numbers before the feedback of the students who 

were given underlined feedback was 11.40 while it was 4.22 after the feedback. In the students who 
were given the uncoded feedback, the error numbers averaged 8.14 before the feedback and 4.14 
after the feedback. Accordingly, it can be stated that there is a decrease in the error numbers of the 
students who are given both underlined and uncoded feedbacks. 

Findings of two-factor ANOVA results regarding underlined and uncoded feedbacks are 
presented in Table 4. 

Table 4.  Two-Factor ANOVA Results Regarding Underlined and Uncoded Feedbacks 

Source of Variance Sum of Squares Sd Mean Square F p 

Between subjects 1442.96 53    

Group (Underlined-Uncoded) 75 1 75 2.85 .097 

Error 1367.96 52 26.30   

Within Subjects 1010.99 54    

Measurement 
(Before feedback-After feedback) 

844.48 1 844.48 447.92 .000 

Group*Measurement 68.48 1 68.48 36.32 .000* 

Error 98.03 52 1.88   

Total 2453.95 107    

b. *p< .001 

 
As seen in Table 4, the common effects of the repeated measures factors on the error numbers are 

meaningful when the error numbers of the students who were applied two different feedbacks differ 
significantly after the experiment, that is to say in the different transaction groups, F (1, 52) = 36.32, 
p <.001. This finding suggests that underlined and uncoded feedbacks have different effects on 
students' failure to reduce their numbers. It is understood that students who were underlined after the 
experiment are more effective in reducing the number of mistakes compared to uncoded feedback. 

Findings of descriptive statistics of error numbers related to coded and uncoded feedbacks are 
given in Table 5. 

 

 

 



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 Hasan Güner Berkant, et.al (The effects of different types of written corrective feedbacks) 

Table 5.  Descriptive Statistics of Error Numbers Related to Coded and Uncoded Feedbacks 

Feedback Type 
Before Feedback After Feedback   

N X S N X S 

Coded 27 5.25 3.89 27 2.74 2.89 

Uncoded 27 8.14 4.02 27 4.14 3.35 

 
As shown in Table 5, the average of the error numbers at the beginning of the coded feedbacked 

students was 5.25, and it was 2.74 after the feedback. In the students who were given the uncoded 
feedback, the error numbers averaged 8.14 before the feedback and 4.14 after the feedback. 
Accordingly, it can be stated that the error numbers of the students who were given both coded and 
uncoded feedbacks decreased. 

Findings of two-way ANOVA results regarding coded and uncoded feedbacks are given in Table 
6. 

Table 6.  Two-Way ANOVA Results Regarding Coded and Uncoded Feedbacks 

Source of Variance Sum of Squares sd Mean Square F p 

Between subjects 1442.96 53    

Group (Underlined-Uncoded) 75 1 75 2.85 .097 

Error 1367.96 52 26.30   

Within Subjects 1010.99 54    

Measurement 

(Before feedback-After feedback) 
844.48 1 844.48 447.92 .000 

Group*Measurement 68.48 1 68.48 36.32 .000* 

Error 98.03 52 1.88   

Total 2453.95 107    

c. *p< .001 

As seen in Table 6, the common effects of the repeated measures factors on the error numbers are 
meaningful when the error numbers of the students who were applied two different feedbacks differ 
significantly after the experiment, that is to say in different transaction groups, F (1, 52) = 36.32, p < 
.001. This finding suggests that coded and uncoded feedbacks have different effects on reducing the 
error numbers of students. It is understood that after the experiment the students who were given 
uncoded feedback due to the decrease in the number of mistakes are more effective in decreasing the 
number of mistakes compared to coded feedback. 

3.2. Qualitative Findings  

Qualitative findings of the document investigation and interviews are presented below. 

3.3. Findings of Document Investigation  

There were grammatical mistakes such as not choosing the appropriate English verb tense for 
conveying an idea or not using it in correct form and subject-verb agreement: 

S1: “I did go shopping with my best friend yesterday.” 

S17: “She prefer go for a walk to stay at home” 

There were spelling mistakes such as incorrect homophones (words with the same pronunciation, 
such as “right”, “rite” and “write”), writing the word in a wrong way. 

S3: “I had a terrible day with my friend yesterday. We really had fun.” (terrific) 



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S12: “There are tree kinds of communication tools that we use mostly in our houses” 

(three) 

Apostrophe errors took place in students’ writing works. 

S9: “My mums close friend texts messages to communicate” (mum’s) 

3.4. Findings of Students' Opinions about the Effects of Different Types of WCFs on 

Students’ Texting Mistakes 

Students’ answers to the question whether writing activities improve their English are given in 
Table 7. 

Table 7.  Contribution of Writing Activities to Students’ English 

Codes  f 

Entertaining 11 

Useful 9 

Instructive   8 

Boring              7 

Time-consuming                    5 

 

As seen in Table 7, less than half of the students (11/27) thought that writing activities were 
entertaining. Besides, some of the students found writing activities useful (9/27) and instructive 
(8/27) However, as negative opinions, some of the students found the activities boring (7/27) and 
time consuming (5/27). Some of the students' views about contributions of writing activities are as 
follows: 

S2: “Why should I like to write in the foreign language? I’m still learning, while I don't like 

writing in my own mother tongue. As I can talk, I don’t need to write. It is both boring and 

time-consuming.” 

S13: “I love writing essays or stories in Turkish lessons. Because as I can't express myself 

while talking, I think I can express it very well by writing it. Writing is very important to 

me. I find writing fun, no matter in what language it is.” 

Students’ answers to the question what activities and instruments help to improve their writing 
skills are given in Table 8. 

Table 8.  The Activities and Instruments that Help to Improve Students’ Writing Skills 

Codes f 

Dictionaries 27 

Teachers’ feedbacks 23 

Grammar lessons 22 

Reading activities 16 

Listening to songs 15 

Giving feedbacks to the friends 13 

Keeping a diary 9 

Watching movies 7 

Translation works 6 

 

As seen in Table 8, all of the students (27/27) thought that dictionaries were very useful in their 
writing works and they helped them improve their writing works. Most of the students declared that 
feedbacks from teachers (23/27) and grammar lessons (22/27) helped them improve their writing 



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works. Few students put forward that watching movies (7/27) and working on translation (6/27) 
improved their writing skills. Some of the students' answers on this topic are as follows: 

S4:“I think dictionaries help me a lot while writing. Because when I don’t remember a word 

in English, I look up the dictionary to learn it. As I use a dictionary, I can remember the 

word more easily when I have to use it later again. So, dictionaries really help me while 

writing.” 

S15: “When I write something, it is really important to me to get feedbacks from my 

teachers. Because they tell me what mistakes I make and what word I used in a wrong way. 

When I learn that I don’t make the same mistakes again.” 

Students’ answers to the effectiveness of WCFs on learning English are given in Table 9. 

Table 9.  The Effectiveness of WCFs 

Codes f 

Effective  23 

Not Effective  4 

 

As seen in Table 9, most of the students (23/27) found WCFs effective on learning English 23 of 
27 students thought that were effective, however a few students (4/27) declared the ineffectiveness 
of these feedbacks. Some of the students' views about the effectiveness of feedbacks are as follows: 

S5: “Getting WCFs from my teacher was really effective for me. As I am learning a new 

language, it is very normal for me to make mistakes. But sometimes I do not know whether 

I make mistakes or I do not understand why I make mistakes. When I get WCFs from my 

teachers, I get sure about my mistake and I try not to do the same mistakes again.” 

S19: “It was very effective. We wrote about four subjects and this was the first time I wrote 

so much in English. I saw that I could write because I did not have self-confidence. After 

getting WCFs from my teacher helped me get more self-confident. I learnt how to express 

myself by writing in a better way. 

Students’ answers about the most challenging issues in English writing activities are given in Table 
10. 

Table 10.  The Most Challenging Issues in English Writing Activities 

Codes f 

Use/Expression of words 22 

Lack of confidence 20 

Fear of failure 18 

 

As seen in Table 10, most of the students (22/27) accepted that they did not know the way how to 
use or express words in second language. Also, many students (20/27) declared that they were lack 
of confidence during English writing activities and 18 of 27 students pointed out that they were 
afraid of making mistakes or being unsuccessful. Some of the students' opinions about these 
challenging issues are as follows: 

S9: “I don’t like writing in my own language so while writing in a foreign language I do not 

feel myself confident. I get afraid of making mistakes. Teachers help me a lot by giving 

feedback but I hate making mistakes. I feel ashamed.” 

S20:“I am afraid of being unsuccessful. I love my English teacher so much so I want her to 

see me as a successful student. When my teacher wants me to write something, I want it to 

be perfect.” 



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 Hasan Güner Berkant, et.al (The effects of different types of written corrective feedbacks) 

Students’ answers about their most preferred WCF types are given in Table 11. 

Table 11.  The Most Preferred WCF Types 

Codes f 

Coded feedback 10 

Underlined feedback 8 

Direct feedback 6 

Uncoded feedback 3 

 

As seen in Table 11, students pointed out that among the feedback types they mostly found 
coded feedback more effective. Secondly underlined feedback, third direct feedback, and lastly 
uncoded feedback were more declared as effective feedbacks respectively. Some of the students' 
views about the sequence of feedback efficiency are as follows: 

S7: “I think coded feedback was the most effective one. Because my teacher just gave me 

codes and I tried to find the mistake. I liked searching what my mistake was and I think that 

was the best way for my learning.” 

S17: “I think the best feedback type was direct one. I want to learn my mistake and I do not 

want to do it again. When my teacher tells me about my mistake, I do not need to search it 

by myself. If so, it would be too time consuming.  

 

It was concluded from the quantitative findings that the most effective feedback type was 
“underlined” on decreasing the number of students’ texting mistakes. The second most effective 
feedback was “uncoded”, and the least effective one was “coded”. As for the results of qualitative 
findings from the students’ views, “coded” was the most effective feedback, “underlined” was the 
second most effective one, “direct” was the third most effective one and the least effective one was 
“uncoded”. Because the quantitative findings showed that the most effective feedback type was 
“underlined” and the qualitative findings declared that the most effective one was “coded”, a 
contradiction was determined between the students’ perceptions and the statistical results about the 
effectiveness of feedback types.  Document investigation showed that students had grammatical, 
spelling, and apostrophe mistakes during the writing activities. 

Although limited number of students evaluated the writing activities including WCFs boring and 
ineffective, most of the students declared that these activities were entertaining and useful for 
improving their writing skills in English. Students’ ideas indicated that dictionaries, teacher’s 
feedbacks, grammar-based lessons, and reading activities were the most useful tools to improve their 
writing skills. According to students’ views, most of them didn’t have enough self-confidence and 
had a fear of failure in English writing activities because they didn’t have enough vocabulary 
knowledge. Also, they didn’t know how to use or express the words correctly. 

The research results revealed that in writing activities, the usage of WCFs was effective. Similar 
to the results of this research, Al-Hazzani and Altalhab’s (2018) study showed that WCF had 
positive effects on students’ writing achievements and helped develop learners’ skills. It also 
revealed that grammatical and lexical accuracy could be improved through the regular giving of 
WCF. Their studies offered positive support for the practice of WCF and added to the growing body 
of evidence investigating and indicating the influence of teachers’ WCF on improving EFL learners’ 
writing achievements and making fewer errors. Based on this result, corrective feedbacks used in 
English writing classroom can be instructive and supportive for students to participate in writing 
activities so students can be willing to perform the writing activities. Similarly, Ferris and Roberts 
(2001) found that groups who received feedback significantly surpassed the no-feedback group. 
Ergünay (2008) concluded that the experimental groups who received WCF significantly 
outperformed the control group in which any WCF wasn’t received in both short and long term. 
Chandler’s (2003) study demonstrated that the accuracy of students’ writings was improved 
significantly by feedbacks. Bitchener and Knoch (2010) came upon that all three analysis groups in 



184 English Language Teaching Educational Journal   ISSN 2621-6485 

 Vol. 3, No. 3, 2020, pp. 174-187 

 Hasan Güner Berkant, et.al (The effects of different types of written corrective feedbacks) 

which three sorts of feedback were used surpassed the control group receiving no feedback due to 
the post-test scores. 

Kang and Han (2015) resulted that WCF could lead to greater grammatical accuracy in second 
language writing activities. Lee (2019) indicated that, the usage of corrective feedbacks aided 
students’ writing development and ensured more active involvement. Hartshorn and et al. (2010) 
stated that a systematic approach including WCF could have a positive effect on the accuracy of 
ESL writing. Van Beuningen and et al. (2011) showed that comprehensive corrective feedback was 
an efficient means of improving learners’ accuracy. They found that pupils whose errors were 
corrected comprehensively made fewer errors in new pieces of writing than learners who did not get 
feedbacks. When students receive feedback, they can revise their paragraphs and this situation may 
allow them to focus on previous mistakes they have made.  

Furthermore, in this study students declared that the most effective feedback types were 
underlined and coded on decreasing the number of their texting mistakes. Similar to this result, 
Chandler (2003) stated not all error correction methods had the same effect in increasing accuracy. 
As there are different types of students, various learning styles and language characteristics, it can be 
very common to have differences in the types of feedback. Kim and Bowles (2019) stated that there 
might not be a one-size-fits-all answer for WCF but that various mistakes responded to feedback 
variously. In a similar way Aseeri (2019) concluded that correcting students’ errors by coding the 
exact error in the text without giving them the correct answer was the least used way from students’ 
viewpoints. At this point, as revealing mistakes through codes will make students struggle with 
writing activities, it may be a little more challenging for them. 

Contrary to this study’s result, in Ergünay’s (2008) research direct corrective feedback was 
declared as the most useful. Also, Bitchener et al. (2005) concluded that indirect feedback was more 
effective than direct feedback in helping learners improve the accuracy of their writing. Bitchener 
and Knoch (2010) detected no significant dissimilarity among the three treatment groups on the 
immediate post-test piece of writing, suggesting that any one of three types of WCF could be used 
by teachers and still have the same positive effect. Various feedback forms promoted distinctive 
sense of processing by all of L2 learners of English. The results also showed a significant 
relationship among error type and depth of processing. The effectiveness of different sorts of 
feedbacks in the mentioned studies may be due to various learning and teaching styles. 

4. Conclusion 

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different types of WCF on students' texting 
mistakes in English lessons. Four different texts in the English curriculum were studied and each 
student's number of errors in these texts was determined and four types of feedback were given to 
the texts.  It was found that in the quantitative findings obtained, the most effective type of feedback 
is the underlined feedback in which the whole sentence with error is underlined, the second most 
effective type of feedback is the uncoded type of feedback where only the word error is underlined, 
and the least effective one is the coded feedback in which error is coded. It was concluded that it is 
the type of feedback to which the information is given. As for the qualitative findings obtained from 
the students' opinions, the feedback type in which the error is coded and the information is given is 
the most effective type of feedback, the second most effective type of feedback is the one in which 
the whole sentence with error is underlined, the least effective type of feedback is uncoded feedback, 
which is the type of feedback where only the wrong word is underlined. Based on the results of this 
study, the following suggestions are put forward for researchers: 

This study was limited to eight grade students’ writing activities including feedbacks in English. 
Further research can be conducted in other grade levels via speaking, listening, and reading 
activities. In this study coded, uncoded, direct, and underlined feedback types were studied. With the 
purpose of introducing some profound vision to the literature, researches comprising the use of other 
types of WCFs such as metalinguistic, focused, unfocused, electronic feedbacks may be carried out. 

 

 

 



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